Royal New Zealand Air Force

withdrawal of rnzaf radar units

withdrawal of rnzaf radar units

By mid-1944 American radar equipment and personnel were
available to meet most of the needs of the South Pacific area and
more were on the way. At the same time the elimination of the
Japanese air force had done away with the necessity for much radar
activity. Consequently the RNZAF units, most of whose men had
completed their tour of overseas duty, prepared to return to New
Zealand, and No. 62 Squadron's headquarters was disbanded in
October. COMSOPAC then asked that a number of RNZAF units
should continue to function in the forward area for a while longer.
New Zealand agreed to maintain them till the end of the year.
After that, as practically all the men would have completed their
tour of operations and as no replacements were available, it would
not commit itself. Eventually the last three units in the forward
area, Nos. 52, 53 and 58, were withdrawn in February 1945.

The set at Norfolk was maintained as a navigational aid, and
in addition three sets in Fiji and Tonga which had been taken over
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from the Army were operated by the RNZAF during the last year
of the war to obtain meteorological observations.

The history of active operations by RNZAF radar units in the
forward area covers less than two years, but during that time they
played an important role in the Allied defence of the recaptured
Solomons. During the early part of the period, owing to the lack
of suitable American equipment, their part was a major one.
Besides the men who operated the units, New Zealand technical
officers did excellent work in the face of very great difficulties.
Sets had to be located in places which in almost every case offended
all principles of radar siting, and their successful operation reflected
great credit on the officers concerned.